Disclaimer: I do not own any of the books in the twilight series or any others… sigh!
Note: contains New Moon spoilers.
Bella the Bloodsucker
Laurent advanced. "It's nothing personal, really. I'm just thirsty and you smell so sweet," he said as a malicious grin spread across his face. "Besides, if you knew what Victoria had planned for you, you would thank me."
"Please don't do this." I took another step back and caught my foot on an open root. I hit the ground hard but the pain didn't reach me; I was too petrified of the death that moved closer and closer. His wicked smile spread across his face and his red eyes leered at me as he advanced. A pit really, the last thing I would see on this earth would be those harsh, bloodthirsty eyes. I longed to see Edward one last time, to feel his cool hand in mine, his loving embrace and his careful caress of his lips. I was about to die, why not wish?
I fought to get up, to escape, but deep down I knew it was pointless. Alice's words of warning drifted into my foggy brain: When we're that close our prey doesn't escape.
Laurent was on me the moment I hit the dirt. His cold lips reached my neck and I screamed as his teeth sank into my flesh. I felt his hunger as he drank and as my life began to slip away, I became curiously detached. I saw his head jerk up suddenly, his teeth bared. Blood spilled down his lips, staining his skin crimson. I was more surprised than relieved. What could stop him from feeding?
Suddenly Laurent was on his feet, backing away. He was staring into the encroaching forest in shock. Slowly, I turned. Had Victoria shown up? Was he passing me along? For some reason, I was insulted before fear took hold once more. What had her plans been? Would I still be conscious when she attacked? I turned slowly to see where my new threat was and froze.
A large wolf too big to be a wolf, leapt over me. As it soared through the air above my head, I heard a distant groan of horror. An un-natural wind blew my hair across my face. I turned to see Laurent had vanished. The massive black wolf tore off after him, followed by four others. They moved so fast they rivalled a vampire.
It took another 30 seconds for the pain to hit. The searing fire spread through my vanes slowly. I fell to the ground in a crumpled heap and was hit with another jolt of pain so fierce that I bellowed. My throat stung from such a scream, but that pain was lost in the fire that oozed through me with every beat of my heart.
I tried to console myself that it would be over soon; those wolves were no match for a vampire, no matter their size. My pain, and life, would soon be at an end. My every nerve screamed with me as I gasped for breath. Every movement sent a new ach through my body as I awaited death's return.
What could possibly take so long? Where was Laurent? I looked forward to his return as I begun to long for the relief from the fiery torture that only death could bring. I waited for what felt like hours for that elusive calm of death. It might have only been minutes.
I heard a distant noise, but it wasn't the gloating satisfaction I expected from Laurent. Instead, I heard weeping. I tried to turn my head and was attacked with another shot of agony. I screamed in pain and frustration. The pain exceeded that of my attack in Phoenix. Compared to the all-encompassing fire that burned its way through me, that was a mere paper-cut.
"Bella? Bella, I am so sorry," a voice wept beside me. Laurent surely hadn't developed a conscience, had he? A hot hand enclosed mine and I moaned at the pressure. My hand was released immediately, but by whom?
My view of the clouds was obscured by a red and blotchy face. Hot tears trickled down his cheeks and landed soundly on mine.
"Bella, oh Bella, I'm too late, I'm sorry!"
"Jacob?" I croaked, pain ceased my throat and I was struck dumb.
Tears of pain sprang from my eyes and left cool trails on my cheeks.
"Bella! Can you hear me? What's happening?"
I tried to reply, but as I began to move my lips, the venom finally entered my heart. A surge of white-hot flames surged through the depths of my chest. I screamed and jerked on the floor. Jacob looked petrified. When the pain subsided into the rest that wracked my body, I summoned enough strength to mouth one word.
"Venom" I breathed, and thankfully, he heard it.
"Venom? They're venomous? What's going on?" he looked incredulous. I had to explain, to ease his confusion.
"Laurent. Vampire. Venom. Hurts" I moaned and turned slightly, which sent new shock waves through me. I cried out again and Jacob's face looked pained.
"I know about the vampires, he won't be returning, don't worry about that." he paused. "What's happening to you?"
How could he know about the vampires? I tried to ask, but no sound escaped my raw throat but a dull scream. However, mercifully, he saw the confusion on my face. He turned away from me and panic lapped over me. I didn't want him to leave. Unthinkingly, I moved my hand to find him, but a jolt of pain stopped me from moving further. I needn't have worried as his face returned to my view with a look of determination.
"Bella, don't be afraid, we're werewolves. We were the ones who chased off that filthy bloodsucker. We know about them and protect people from them, but I had no idea - what did he do to you?" I was in too much pain to take in what was said. Dully, I remember acknowledging important information being passed, but I could not make sense of it. I knew he needed to know what was happening as I finally realised that Laurent would not be returning to finish the job.
"I'm changing," I rasped. "Venom changes, takes time" I managed. Shock flitted across his face, then comprehension.
"Shit! How long? His hands raked through his short hair, only now did I realise its absence. In my delirium, I giggled. It was strange to see such a harsh buzz on my friend. My laughter caused more pain and my face twisted as it coursed through my lungs. "How long Bella? Don't go hysterical on me!"
I regained most of my senses and managed to think.
"Three." my voice was low and hoarse. I would not me able to talk muck longer.
"Hours?" he qualified. I nearly laughed again, if only!
"Days" I moaned as the slow venom spread further. Jacob's face fell and contorted in an agony that matched my own in intensity. However, I knew his could not me physical.
"No, no, no, no. my sweet Bella, I am so sorry! If only I had gotten here sooner!"
"Hey, don't beat yourself up, it's not your fault" another voice drifted towards me
"Sam, how can I not? What am I going to do?" desperation flooded his voice. There was a silence as I writhed in pain on the ground
"I suppose there's nothing we can do. If she is turning into one of those leaches, we have to protect the people from her." his words were too jumbled to make any sense to me. They made sense to Jacob.
"No! We are not going to kill Bella, I can't!" I understood that! I didn't want to die, I didn't want to leave Jacob and Charlie and my mom. I wouldn't.
"Jake," my cracked voice was barely audible, but suddenly all eyes were on me. "I won't hurt people. Be like Cullens." the name ripped at my insides and its pain was added to the rest of the fire that burned inside me.
Jacob argued my point for an immeasurable amount of time. I zoned out of the conversation about my fate that buzzed around me and allowed the pain to consume me. It could have been minutes, or hours before I could recognize the bronze face of my friend. He wasn't crying anymore, and the look of triumph he wore gave me hope. I saw his lips moving and tried to find the words that hovered close to my head, but heard only my own slow moaning.
"Bella? Bella? A distant murmuring reached my ears. "Bella, you are going to be OK. It's been a day since that parasite hurt you. You are going to get through this." could it really have been only a day? I was conscious of a lightening sky, had night passed without my notice? Time seised to mean as I waited in agony. The venom seeped to the last inch of me, and suddenly, the pain intensified. All throughout my body, things were changing. My bones shattered at once and the scream of agony echoed off the mountains. I saw Jacob flinch and pull away, to return in the same second. He looked more worried than when he thought I would die. Every cell in my body felt like they were being sliced open. My humanity was stripped from me then as my body began to reform itself.
My whole body was on fire and lights danced in front of my eyes. This anguish lasted for hours as I watched the sun climb in the sky. I heard my heart pulse in my ears. It was deafening. I counted it out to distract myself. One, two, three. Four. Five… six… the gaps grew as my heart began to give up its struggle. I continued counting and barely noticed Jacob talking to me.
"Bella, it's going to be over soon. We're on the last day. It can't be long now. Just hang in there." but despite his words, my pulse kept hammering in my ears and I dared not hope for the promised relief. Fifty-eight, my heart continued. My wild gasps became shallower as I begun to need less air and the pain began to lessen its grip on me. As each beat of my heart became further apart, relief would taint the face above me, only to be taken over by frustration when it began again. I caught bits of conversation.
"Can't be long now."
"Do you have it ready?"
Was that it? Her last heart beat- no."
"It's been a minute, that must have been her last." eighty-two, my heart beat again.
"Damn it!"
My muscles began to spasm as the pain suddenly stopped; the freedom to move without pain was so overwhelming.
"Shit! She's having a fit! This can't be good." a worried voice drifted to me. My heart beat its last and my body stilled. The transformation was complete.